Tracking telescoping outrigger

ABSTRACT

An outrigger has a plurality of telescoping tubes capable of being retracted and extended with respect to one another, and a sleeve between the tubes; and said tubes and sleeve having longitudinal tracking means comprising protrusions and grooves to permit the tubes to be retracted and extended, while preventing substantial relative rotation therebetween; and locking means to lock the tubes in an extended position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of ourprior co-pending provisional application No. 60/450,832, filed Feb. 28,2003 and the provisional application No. 60/396,067 filed Jul. 15, 2002which was referenced therein, the disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference as if fully set forth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to fishing gear for use on a boat and, inparticular, to a piece of equipment known as an outrigger for guidingtrolling lines outwardly from the boat for luring fish.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] In the prior art, sport fishing boats are typically equipped withoutriggers for extending fishing and trolling lines out and beyond thewake of the moving boat and into calmer water where the fish are moreapt to take the lure or bait. One such outrigger is shown in U.S. Pat.No. 5,921,196, issued Jul. 13, 1999. FIG. 18 thereof is reproducedherein as FIG. 1 (prior art). As shown therein, the outrigger consistsof a plurality of telescopic outrigger tubes. At the bottom of the innertube, there is a spring pin arrangement whereby when the outrigger isproperly positioned, a spring urges a pin to pass through aligned holesin the tubes to lock the telescoping tubes in position. This spring pinarrangement is retained as more fully described therein.

[0006] Also in this device, a plurality of sleeves serve to position theholes in alignment so that the spring biased pin may pass therethrough.These comprise a sleeve 332 mounted on the outer wall of the inner tube310, which sleeve ultimately engages a stop assembly and a stop bushing352.

[0007] Mounted about the upper portion of the stop bushing 352 is aguide ring 354. All of these parts are permanently retained in theirrespective positions by epoxy or other type of glue. Thus, the bushing352 and ring 352 are permanently fixed on the end of the outer tube. Thesame is true on the bung 342 which is permanently fixed to the innertube 310.

[0008] Thus, this device provides no ready means for disassemblement forcleaning and/or repairs.

[0009] Furthermore, this type of device does not provide a sure means toalign the internally mounted button with the hole in the external tubeto fix the tubes in the fully extended position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] I have provided an improved outrigger of the telescoping typewhich can be readily disassembled for cleaning and repair. Thisoutrigger provides a means for retaining the spring; which means can beremoved and cleaned. It also provides a means for positively trackingthe telescoping sections with respect to one another so that they cannotbe substantially rotated. This provides a means such that such that thelocking button always pops through the holes in the telescoping sectionsto lock the sections together in the extended position. In particular, Ihave invented an outrigger comprising a plurality of telescoping tubescapable of being retracted and extended with respect to one another, andfurther comprising at least one outer tube and one inner tube; a sleevejuxtaposed between the inner and outer tubes; said sleeve having a firstlongitudinally extending tracking means thereon; said tubes havingsecond longitudinal tracking means thereon coacting with said firsttracking means to permit the tubes to be retracted and extended, whilepreventing substantial relative rotation therebetween; and locking meansto lock the tubes in an extended position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a view from a prior art outrigger patent shown partiallybroken away and in section;

[0012]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of portions of an outriggerin accordance with my invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a cross section view of a portion of the outrigger shownin accordance with my invention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of an outrigger inaccordance with an alternate embodiment of my invention;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of an outrigger inaccordance with my invention;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the outrigger inaccordance with my invention;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the outrigger inaccordance with my invention;

[0018]FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of an outrigger inaccordance with my invention;

[0019]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of portions of atelescoping outrigger in accordance with my invention;

[0020]FIG. 10 is a full view and partial section of a portion on atelescoping outrigger in accordance with my invention;

[0021]FIG. 11 is a view of parts of a telescoping outrigger inaccordance with an alternate embodiment of my invention; some shown insection and some shown in full lines;

[0022]FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of portions of anoutrigger in accordance with an alternate embodiment of my invention;

[0023]FIG. 13 is a perspective view partially exploded of a portion ofan outrigger in accordance with an alternate embodiment of my invention;and

[0024]FIG. 14 is an exploded view partially in full lines and partiallyin section of an assembled outrigger in accordance with my invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring to the Figures, a portion of an outrigger is shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 and comprises an outer tube 20 telescoping with an innertube 22. My invention provides a positive means for tracking the tubesas they are manipulated from the retracted to the extended position.This tracking means consists of a longitudinally extending protrusionrunning the length of an outer tube 20 and a longitudinally extendinggroove running the length of a mating sleeve 30. These parts are shown,for example, in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, wherein the protrusion is illustratedat 70 and groove is shown at 72.

[0026] An additional longitudinally extending protrusion on the innerwall of the sleeve 30 is provided at 74, FIGS. 2 and 3, to mate with anadditional groove 76, in the next juxtaposed tube 22. These protrusionsare shown in line radially in FIG. 3. However, they need not be soaligned, as shown in FIG. 4 at 70 and 174. Each protrusion must be inline with its mating groove. The protrusions are designed so that whenco-acting with the grooves, they do not permit the tubes to besubstantially rotated with respect to one another; but merely to beextended with respect to one another. Thus, the clearance space whichpermits the tube and sleeve to slide back and forth with respect to oneanother, must, in accordance with my invention, be less than the fullextension of the protrusion through the clearance space and into itsmating groove. This is illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein the sliding actionis provided by the clearance space “A”; but that sliding actionclearance space “A” is less than the distance which the protrusion 70extends from the wall of the tube 20 and fully into its mating groove 72in the sleeve 30; that distance being identified by the letter “B”.

[0027] These protrusions and grooves are shown in partial section inFIG. 8.

[0028] This tracking is for the purposes of alignment of the button 25,FIG. 7, with the hole 100 in the outer tube 20. Referring to FIG. 7, thebottom of the inner tube 22 sits against a flange 52 of the retainer 26.The retainer 26 has a hole 28 therein retaining a spring 50 biasing thebutton 25 outwardly. Thus, when the inner tube 22 is moved from theretracted condition to the extended condition, the tracking ofprotrusions and grooves provides the means such that the button 25 willalways pass through the hole 100 and lock the parts together.

[0029] In accordance with my invention, one track is sufficient;however, it is within my invention to provide more than one track andprotrusion, or longitudinal guide means, if so desired.

[0030] In order to retain the button 25 and have it tract with thetubes, I have provided a retention means designated generally 21 inFIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 which comprises a sleeve 30 and a retainer 26.

[0031] The retainer 26 has flat, longitudinally extending surfacesthereon, such as at 129, FIGS. 6 and 7. This configuration creates aspace 127 between the retainer 26 and the internal surface of the sleeve30; which space allows for water and debris to readily flow therethroughand be discharged from the bottom of the sleeve 30.

[0032] To retain the retainer 26 within the sleeve 30, I have provided aset screw 32 which is threaded into the retainer 26 through the wall ofthe sleeve 30.

[0033] The sleeve 30 is in sliding engagement with the outer tube 20.

[0034] The sleeve 30 has a groove 72 (FIG. 5) on the outside to matewith the protrusion 70 on the inside of the outer tube 20.

[0035] The inner wall of the sleeve 30 has a longitudinally extendingprotrusion 74 which mates with the groove 76 in the outer wall of thetube 22.

[0036] The outer wall of the retainer 26, FIG. 6 has a longitudinallyextending groove 27 to embrace the protrusion 78 on the inner wall ofthe inner tube 22, FIG. 2.

[0037] The retainer 26 has a flange 52 as an integral part thereof. Thisflange 52 rests upon an internal shoulder 54 in the sleeve 30, FIG. 5.

[0038] The inner tube 22 is also connected to the retainer 26 by a setscrew 29.

[0039] The inner tube 22 can be removed from the outer tube 20. When itis removed, sleeve 30 and retainer 26 stay attached to the inner tube22. In the removed condition, the set screw 32 can be backed off toallow the sleeve 30 to be disengaged from the tube 22. Also the screw 29can be backed off to allow the retainer 26 to be removed from the innertube 22 and cleaned. This also allows replacement of the spring 50 orthe button 25, if necessary.

[0040] The button 25 passes through a hole 35 in the sleeve 30. It alsopasses through a hole 37 in tube 22. To keep the button from beingejected through the hole 37, the button is provided with a flange 125which extends beyond the periphery of the hole 37. Thus, when the spring50 urges the button outwardly, the flange 125 will engage the inner wallof the tube 22 and prevent the button from being ejected from the tube.

[0041] Laterally extending drainage holes 200 are provided communicatingthrough the flat surfaces 129 of the retainer 26 to the hole 28 whichholds the spring 50. Thus, if debris gets into this area, it can readilyexit through the drainage holes 200.

[0042] In FIG. 9, the outer tube 20 is shown in an exploded view with awasher 14 positioned to engage the upper outside end surface of theouter tube 20.

[0043] Mounted about the washer 14 is a guide ring 18 for retaining thewasher 14 in position at the outer end of the tube 20.

[0044] The inner diameter hole through the washer 14 is in slidingengagement with the outer surface of the inner tube 22 (as shown at 120,FIG. 13) to guide the tube 22 while it is being retracted and extended.

[0045] A plurality of set screws 24, FIG. 10, are threaded through theguide ring 18 to engage the surface of the outer tube 20 when fullyassembled. The set screws are preferably cup-shaped at their engagingends so as to provide a ring of contact against the outer surface of theouter tube. Cone point set screws could be used, but might have atendency to score the surface of the tube and eventually create problemsif they were repeatedly assembled and disassembled. Positioning aplurality of these set screws at various angles (such as 120 degrees,FIG. 10) about the circumference of the guide ring 18 provides not onlysufficient strength to retain the guide ring on the outer tube; but alsoto prevent distortion of the outer tube. Thus, I have provided a meansfor fixedly attaching the washer 14 and retaining ring 18, yetpermitting the outrigger to be disassembled.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 10, the ring 18 is spaced from the outer wall ofthe tube 20. The washer 14, however, is not so spaced; but rather is inabutting engagement with the outer end surface of tube 20.

[0047] It is preferable to have the holes for the said screws 24positioned closer to the vertical bottom of the retaining ring 18, asshown at 117 in FIG. 9. This gives a sure engagement with the tube 20;since the washer 14 occupies the upper portion of the inner cavity ofthe retaining ring 18.

[0048] In operation, the tubes can be taken apart by backing off the setscrews 24, FIG. 10, so that the ring 18 is disengaged from the outertube 20.

[0049] If desirable for reinforcement purposes, a portion of the ring 18can be thickened to accommodate the threaded eye bolt 152; as shown at150 in FIG. 11.

[0050] If desirable, the washer 14 may include a thin downwardlydepending section 114, FIG. 12, embracing the outside of the outer tube20, as shown in FIG. 13. In such embodiment, indentations 187 may beprovided to allow the set screws to push against this thin dependingsection 114 and force it against the outer wall of the tube 20. Toaccommodate the clamping movement, the downwardly depending skirt 114may be split, as at 115. Alternatively, the skirt can have holes insteadof the indentations 187 to allow the set screws to pass through thisskirt and onto the outer wall of the outer tube, as at 116 in FIG. 13.

What is claimed is:
 1. An outrigger comprising a plurality oftelescoping tubes capable of being retracted and extended with respectto one another, and further comprising at least one outer tube and oneinner tube; a sleeve juxtaposed between the inner and outer tubes; saidsleeve having a first longitudinally extending tracking means thereon;said tubes having second longitudinal tracking means thereon coactingwith said first tracking means to permit the tubes to be retracted andextended, while preventing substantial relative rotation therebetween;and locking means to lock the tubes in an extended position.
 2. Theoutrigger of claim 1 wherein the outer tube has an inwardly andlongitudinally extending protrusion; the sleeve has a longitudinallyextending groove co-acting with said protrusion; the sleeve has aninwardly and longitudinally extending protrusion; the inner tube has alongitudinally extending groove co-acting with the protrusion on thesleeve; the inner tube has a inwardly and longitudinally extendingprotrusion; and the locking means further comprises a retainer having alongitudinally extending groove therein co-acting with the protrusion onthe inner tube to prevent substantial rotation therebetween; and theretainer, the tubes and the sleeve have transfer holes therein which arealigned in at least one extended condition; and the retainer has a holetherein in which there was positioned a spring-biased button biased toextend through said holes in said extended condition.
 3. The outriggerof claim 2 wherein fastening means are provided to permit retention anddisengagement of the retainer within said inner tube.
 4. The outriggerof claim 2 wherein fastening means are provided to permit retention anddisengagement of the retainer with said sleeve.
 5. The outrigger ofclaim 1 wherein a guide means is provided on said outer tube co-actingwith said inner tube to guide said inner tube during extension andretraction.
 6. The outrigger of claim 5 wherein said guide meanscomprises a washer mounted on the end of said outer tube by means of aguide ring fastened to said outer tube and provided with means fordisengagement from said outer tube whereby said tubes may be retained intheir assembled condition and also disassembled.